The Penn's Grove record., 1887-03-19

THE CRISIS.

"Enidi9 Miss Irendennls raised heF
handsome head from its droop OF twl-
light revery, and glanced around with
languid curiosity for the owner of the
sharply called name. The long piazza
was shrouded in jasmine, and the inqui-
ring glance met only glossy leaves, min
pled with clusters of fragrant golden
bell.
"About the twentieth time | have
heard that shrek since we arrived, u
said Miss Trendennis, yawning behind
a gracefully arranged screen of Jewelled
fingers. But the respondent seems IN
visible
"No," said her companion, a young
man of Herculean dimensions and arts
tocratic bearing, who had been restlessly
pacing the piazza, and now stopped be-
fore a break in the jasmine wall.
s'There she is. Look, Iris, quickly
But Miss Trendennis' curiosity was
not sufficient to lead her across the III
tervening space, and she said:
81 will be content with your descrip-
tion." ,
s'She is coming up from that marvel
of a flower garden, dragging a hoe in
one hand and a huge watering-pot IN
the other. A curious fiat hat has fallen
from her head to her shoulders, and her
ha r is flying all around it. Handsome,
Iris; no mistake"
1.-THE flat, or the girl, or-
s'The hair. Magnificent red gold,
wavy and thick, as you g er saw"
"How is the face?" queried Miss
Trendennis. with mild interest.
every expressive. Fine eyes and
good color. Features $3.50. A petite,
graceful figure with plenty of elasti-
CITY,"
The young mar lowered his voice as
light footsteps sounded upon the walk
near by, accompanied by the rattle OF a
trailing hoe and low, sweet humming OF
Il Scotch ballad.
San excellent voice and welLtrain-
ed" said Miss Trendennis, when the
sounds were past.
"Whom C II she be?"
"Lady help probably. How was she
dressed?"
"Oh, plain enough. Some sort OF
gray" and the gentleman returned to
his pacing up and down. "Do you sup
pose, Iris he exclaimed, suddenly,
THAT she hoes for a livingp"
Miss Trendennis smiled reassuringly.
"Oh, no! She is most likely assistant
housekeeper, with a penchant for tlori-
culture"
"What a perpetual curse"-began
the gentleman, breaking another silence
with an energy that startled his COM
panion into opening her tranquil blue
Y e unusually wide-''what a perpetual
curse such a life must be to a high
spirited girl like that. l assure you,
Iris, when / think of such Il frail, sem
sitiye creature working for bread, | feel
terribly ashamed of Donald Grey, Il
strong man, idling about with the for
tune that other hands earned for him."
Miss Trendennis glanced with some
admiration at the "strong man." but
there was a shade of disapproyal in her
tone as she said:
"Really, Don, you are premature.
There may be no occasion for such SYM
pathy."
He answered her with an impatient
wave of his hand.
81 understand with a sympathetic
intonation, and eyes serenely smiling
upon the contracted brow and self-eon-
demning eyes of Mr.. Grey. ''But you
do your part, Don, and ought to be con-
tent. No II man could make all the
crooked places straight
"You always understand said Grey,
stopping beside her and clearing his
brow as his eyes rested on her face.
understand and ~sympathize, but yet
yuo are so cold, Iris"
Miss Trendennis laughed softly.
II think l am asleep" she said. "But
there is another extreme
"Yes. You think me a very unsafe
animal, no doubt" said Grey, smiling.
Then gloomily, 81 am rather a savage,
but it is your work, Iris. You Keep me
in a constant state of restless hopeless.
ness and-and jealousy
Miss Trendennis' eyes dropped to the
solitaire on her engagement finger, and
she drew it off and on slowly.
"Yes," said Grey, bending to kiss the
pretty little hand, land | am very proud
and very happy when | am not afraid. .
She looked up q~uestioningly, and he
replied;
"You have been candid. Knowing
that each man in the house holds as
much Of your heart as /, how can ]
trust that n of them may not win
moref"
"sNeyer trouble trouble
Till trouble trouble you,
Then just trouble trouble,
Aad stab him through and thrOugh.'